Of the younger players at the club, the one who made the biggest leap in status this year was undoubtedly Ajmal Shahzad. In April, a promising second team bowler constantly held back by injury; by September, one of the most chased signatures in the increasingly buoyant off-season transfer market.

What made the transformation? A combination of sustained fitness throughout the season – not only avoiding injury, but still being able to steam in to bowl come the final game of the year – added to a regular place in the first team and a burgeoning confidence that saw him show signs of being a genuine all-rounder.

Credit has to be given to Yorkshire for AJ’s run in the side, as early season bowling returns where steady rather than spectacular. But with other options available, they stuck with him, and a gradual increase in effectiveness throughout the season culminated in a chance to take the new ball for the final four games of the summer resulting in 18 wickets @ 25. Add in the 78 and 88 scored in the two away victories at Basingstoke and Hove and you begin to see why his contract being up for renewal has attracted so much interest from other counties.

That uncertainty about his future needs to be resolved, and resolved with him staying at Yorkshire, as here is a player whose talent is, as yet, not reflected in his career stats. The maiden five wicket haul and championship hundred that he came so close to getting at Hove are now surely only a matter of time. Whether they can be achieved in a second injury free season and one where another step up in performance sees him replicate his strike rate from the final few games of this year (46.5) throughout the summer, remain to be seen. But the potential is certainly there for Ajmal to lead our attack for years to come. After sticking with the lad through some tough, injury hit times, it’ll be a crying shame to see another county reap the benefit of Yorkshire’s patience.

Championship – 13 matches, 445 runs @ 40.45, 40 wickets @ 34.40

Friends Provident – 4 matches, 66 runs @ 22.00, 3 wickets @ 46.66

Twenty/20 Cup – 9 matches, 33 runs @ 5.50, 4 wickets @ 54.75

Pro40 – 2 matches, 0 runs @ 0.00, 3 wickets @ 14.66

(Shahzad Photo: By kind permission, Dave Morton)